Thousands of people attended The Big E on Monday, Sept. 16.
There were 67,034 people total during the first Monday of the fair’s season.
This was a considerable increase from last year. On the first Monday of the fair season in 2023, 16,549 people attended.
The Big E is considered one of the largest fairs in the U.S. and Canada, according to Carnival Warehouse.
It was named the third largest fair in 2021. However, by 2023 it was the seventh largest fair in the U.S.
The number of fairgoers doesn’t just mean the amount of people who enjoy things like cream puffs, rides and shopping, it also reflects how much the Eastern State Exposition can do over the next year, Eugene J. Cassidy, president and chief executive officer, told The Republican.
Keeping the fair alive and thriving is especially vital for farmers, since the awards they receive means they can sell and breed their cattle at a higher price and helps improve the lineage of the animals.
“The value is they can share and exchange best practices,” he said.
About 87% of the Eastern States Exposition budget comes from the fair. After 30 years working there, Cassidy predicted the nonprofit would end up with a net income of $2.5 million after 2023′s fair. In a good year, it will top $4.5 million, he said.
So far, 342,478 people have attended The Big E. It lasts until Sept. 29.
